Jackson

Jackson

Jackson

At Shriners Hospitals for Children — Greenville, approximately one third of the patients we care for with progressive infantile scoliosis can be cured. Jackson is proud to be in that statistic.

At age 4 months, Jackson was diagnosed with progressive infantile scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Jackson’s mother, Jennifer, a pediatric nurse, immediately sought treatment from Shriners Hospitals for Children.

“We chose the Shriners Hospitals for Children network because they are the “gold standard” for treating progressive infantile scoliosis,” Jennifer said. “We wanted our son to be treated in a place with a large caseload of kids like him. We specifically chose the Greenville Shriners Hospital because of Peter Stasikelis, M.D. I work closely with the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP), and Dr. Pete is a very highly regarded professional in Mehta casting. He is known in ISOP for having great success with straightening spines.”

At 16 months of age, Jackson was placed in his first Mehta cast. A Mehta cast is a plaster cast that is applied in the operating room from the patient’s collarbone to the bottom of the spine. When the cast is applied, pressure is placed on the cast causing the spine to straighten. When the cast hardens, it holds the spine in this position. Subsequent casts each progressively straighten the patient’s spine. Jackson wore each of his Mehta casts for two to three months, and then had a one week break before having the next cast put on. At age 3 and nine Mehta casts later, Jackson’s spine is completely straight.

“When we began casting at age 16 months, Jackson’s curve was around 50 degrees,” Jennifer says. “Now, he is at zero degrees at 37 months! Jackson’s straight spine feels like a new beginning and his future is unlimited. It’s difficult for me to imagine what his future would have been without Mehta casting and Shriners Hospitals for Children — Greenville. Now, I feel like Jackson’s incredible spirit won’t be hindered by his physical deformity! He has been through a lot in three years, but now the story has a happy ending. I feel an immense relief that we acted in time, that we found the best place for treatment and that Jackson is cured!”

Jackson maintained his perfectly straight spine by wearing an orthosis, or brace, for one year. Since then, Jackson has been brace free and has maintained his straight spine for four years. He will be continually monitored at the Greenville Shriners Hospital to make sure his spine remains straight as he grows.